Total pages in book: 161
Estimated words: 153795 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 769(@200wpm)___ 615(@250wpm)___ 513(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 153795 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 769(@200wpm)___ 615(@250wpm)___ 513(@300wpm)
“Many people get mixed up with him, only to realize it was a mistake later. Fortunately, I escaped him. Your sister would know all about what he’s like, considering the situation she’s in.”
I swallow hard, still shaking my head. That I can’t deny, but I refuse to give him the satisfaction of agreement.
“It’s easy to fall victim to a wicked fucker like him,” Thane adds.
A woman begins to sing loud and proud behind us on a platform stage, and the villagers cheer. Before long, she begins dancing with a chimp-like beastial. Other people begin to dance, too. Everyone is truly enjoying themselves, oblivious to the storm raging between me and Thane.
“Now I see why you agreed to risk your life to go on this quest with me,” I say, focusing on him again. “It’s not about doing the right thing or helping someone else. It’s all about getting what you want.”
“The only noble thing about this quest is you,” he says, pushing to his feet. “I never indicated otherwise. I haven’t lied to you. Not once.”
“But you withheld the truth. That’s the same thing in my opinion.” I raise my chin to meet his eyes. “Why are you only telling me this now?”
“Would it have made a difference? Would you have decided not to make the journey if you’d known about all this before we left?”
I study him for a moment, my anger cooling a bit. “No. I would have made the journey regardless. But I wouldn’t have had to sell my necklace.”
He releases a short breath. “The coins you gave me for that necklace have been used to make this journey easier for you, Zaira. They’ve benefited you most. And I figured I would tell you more about the tome and the blood the closer we got to the island.”
“I would have agreed to help you regardless of if you were willing to help me.”
“I know that now…but I can’t just take people at their word. Actions speak much louder.” His lips twist before he adds, “And this must stay between us—only us.” He leans in close—so close, I can feel the heat rolling off his body. “I don’t want a single word about us going after the tome to spread. Algar is a blabbermouth, and Rynthea…well, you know how she feels about me—about any sorcerer, really.”
I start to tell him that Algar already knows but think better of it. I’ll just have to talk to Algar later, beg him not to tell anyone. As for Rynthea, I understand. I’m not a huge fan of this particular sorcerer myself at the moment.
“You better hope that broker still has my necklace,” I growl as I poke a finger into his chest. “And I expect you to repay me for every fucking coin I gave you.”
Thane doesn’t even react to my finger. He sighs instead. “I’ll pay you back with any treasure I get from the island. That’ll be worth way more.”
I scoff and roll my eyes. “Yeah, if we even make it there.”
A body brushes against my right side, and I startle when an arm drapes over my shoulders.
“Zaira the Noble. My goodness, you clean up so well.” Kelrean smells of way too many pints of ale. “Have I told you how beautiful you are?”
I let go of some of the tension in my body and smile, flattered. Kelrean lowers his hand to squeeze my upper arm. I steal a glance at Thane, who is now glaring at the fire with a frown and a ticking jaw.
“I love mortals.” Kelrean hugs me from the side with a wide smile. “You’re all so…simple.”
“Um…thank you?”
“It’s a compliment, trust me,” he assures me. “Question for you: have you ever tried talmoon?”
“You’re joking,” Thane counters, cutting a glare at the prince.
“Not at all.” Kelrean’s eyes turn to the assassin. “There’s a tent a short walk away with loads of it. Would you like to join me, Zaira?”
“Not wise,” Thane grumbles.
“Let her decide, yeah?” Kelrean gives him a smug grin.
“I’m her protector, so I can chime in. It’s not wise to do talmoon when we’re in the middle of a quest, Quinlocke. Anything could come up, and you’ll be too high off your ass to handle the situation. You shouldn’t go.”
My eyebrows knit together as I focus on Thane. I intended to tell Kelrean that I would pass. I wanted to talk with Thane a bit more, possibly even hammer down on him about withholding the truth about the tome, but now that he’s pulling this shit, I don’t want to be anywhere near him right now.
Yes, he was hired to protect me on our journey, but he has no right to tell me what to do during my free time, and he definitely doesn’t have the right to make any personal decisions for me.
Algar’s warning from before replays in my mind. “Just be careful with him, Zaira.” I know a bit more about Thane now, but I still have so many questions.